Phil Taylor's Blog: The Phil Factor, page 98

Life Changes in the Blink of An Eye

This post is not for the faint of heart. Last night I witnessed a single moment in time that changed several lives, and not for the better.

My wife and I had left the house to run a few errands and pick up a fast food dinner for ourselves and two of our boys. On a mid-December evening the sun had already set about a half hour earlier. It was past dusk and leaning into darkness. I was driving, and my car, that likely is smarter than I am, had automatically chosen to illuminate the headlights....

My Christmas Form Letter To You!

It’s that time of year again! The time for the year in review Christmas form letter. It’s always touching when our relatives treat us like customers. Typically these form letters take one of two directions. The first and most typical is the ‘What a wonderful year we had!’

“Dear ____________, 2016 was a wonderful year for my family. I started a new job six figure job, and my wife was promoted to president of her company. The kids are doing well. Johnny aced the S.A.T., didn’t miss a question!...

Wordless Wednesday! Fruit or Lethal Weapon?

I’ve never even see this before? Have any of you eaten one?

Tagged: romanesco, The Phil Factor, Wordless Wednesday

Top Ten Tuesday! The Ten Best Christmas Specials!

Last year a network aired “It’s Your 50th Christmas Charlie Brown!” To be sure, the Peanuts Christmas special is a classic here in the States. What I’d like to see someone create is a special with all the Peanuts characters as 50 year olds. How weird would that be? Here are my choices for the Ten Best Holiday Specials of All Time. The Star Wars Holiday Special was mentioned in the comments a few times last year, but didn’t make the Top Ten only because I haven’t seen it. If you’re curious, i...

Music Monday! A Christmas Cover by Weezer

Oh Holy Night by Weezer

Have a great Monday! ~Phil

Tagged: Music, Music Monday, The Phil Factor, Weezer

The Shocking Truth: How Click Bait Addiction Will Ruin Your Life!

Read this post!You won’t believe what happens next!It could save your life!Ten Things You Can’t Afford NOT to Know!Click bait is the eye candy of the internet. I know, I know, you thought I was, but for the purposes of today’s Phil Factor we’ll say click bait is the eye candy of the internet. A title or picture so tantalizing that we can’t resist clicking on it. That’s my quandary every weekend when I write #ThePhilFactor. I think to myself, What’s a title catchy enough that people will clic...

TBT! The Elf From Hell?

This isn’t really a throwback because it’s timely and relevant every year and I intend to keep posting it until all the demented parents stop waging psychological warfare on their young children.

(12/22/2012) Most of you are familiar with the Elf on the Shelf right? In the Elf on the Shelf tradition these poorly dressed little plastic elves are mischievous minions of the red suited overlord who spy on the every move of children and report back to their tyrannical leader. That allegedly quain...

Wordless Wednesday!

I love stuff like this. Just an alley next to a art gallery in Jamestown, NY. Have a great Wednesday! ~Phil

Tagged: Art, Street art, The Phil Factor, Wordless Wednesday

Top Ten Tuesday! Ten Weird Holiday Traditions From Around the World

Now that the holiday season is upon us, it’s time for my holiday themed Top Ten lists with snarky comments. One of the ten traditions in the list is made up by me. See if you can guess which one is the fake and put your guess in the comments.

Ten Weird Holiday Traditions From Around the World

10. South Africa: In South Africadeep fried caterpillars are the traditional holiday meal. Who knows why? Maybe they believe that eating caterpillars symbolically will make their life turn into a butterf...

Music Monday: Will Forget Me In Vegas Be Forgotten?

Talent. We all have special talents, but not all talents are publicly appreciated. You may cross stitch like nobody’s business and I may make the world’s best grilled cheese sandwich. When someone has a special talent that is on display for the world and lifts your spirit when you see or hear it, it somehow seems sadder when that person passes. It’s as if the world has lost something.

When Prince passed away from a drug overdose earlier this year, the world mourned. Last week, Chris Wurzburg,...